Cheetah

The cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus) is a species of large feline. It is the fastest land animal, running up to 104 km/h (65 mph). Cheetahs have tawny to creamy white fur with solid black spots. They grow to be about 67–94 cm (2.20–3.08 ft) tall at the shoulder.

Cheetahs were first scientifically described in the late 18th century. They live in Africa and central Iran. One African subspecies was introduced to India in 2022. They live in many places, such as savannahs like the Serengeti, arid mountain ranges in the Sahara, and hilly desert areas.

Cheetahs are social animals. They live in groups of females with their cubs, male "coalitions," or as solitary males. These big cats are active during the day. They hunt small- to medium-sized animals such as impala, springbok, and Thomson's gazelles.

Females give birth to three or four cubs. The cubs stay with their mother for about four months before being weaned and around 20 months before becoming independent. Sadly, cheetahs face threats from habitat loss, conflicts with humans, poaching, and diseases. Their population is listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List.

Etymology

The word "cheetah" comes from languages like Urdu, Hindi, and Sanskrit. In these languages, it means something like "variegated" or "painted," because of the cheetah's spotted coat. The scientific name Acinonyx combines Greek words meaning "immobile nails." This describes the cheetah's claws, which cannot be retracted. The name jubatus is Latin for "crested" or "having a mane."

Taxonomy

In 1777, a scientist named Johann Christian Daniel von Schreber described the cheetah and gave it the scientific name Felis jubatus. Later, in 1828, another scientist named Joshua Brookes suggested a new name for its genus, Acinonyx. The cheetah looks a lot like a greyhound, which makes it different from other cats.

During the 1800s and 1900s, many cheetahs were studied, and some were thought to be different subspecies. For example, a South African cheetah with thick fur was called the "woolly cheetah." Scientists have debated how many true subspecies of cheetahs exist. By 2017, they recognized four main subspecies based on genetic studies.

Phylogeny and evolution

The cheetah's closest relatives are the cougar and the jaguarundi. Together, these three species form the Puma lineage. This lineage split from other cats about 6.7 million years ago.

Fossils show that cheetahs have lived for at least 3.5 to 3 million years. The modern cheetah first appeared in Africa around 1.9 million years ago.

Scientists have found cheetah fossils in Africa, Europe, and North America. Some of these ancient cats were bigger and slower than cheetahs today. Over time, the cheetah's population dropped at times. This changed its genetic diversity.

Genetics

The cheetah has 38 chromosomes, like most other cat species. Cheetahs have very little genetic variety. This makes it hard for them to breed in captivity and can make them more likely to get sick.

There is a special type of cheetah called the king cheetah. It has a rare mutation that gives it cream-colored fur with large, blotchy spots and three dark stripes running from its neck to its tail. These cheetahs were once thought to be a mix between a leopard and a hyena, but we now know they are just a unique variation of the cheetah.

Characteristics

The cheetah is a slim, spotted cat with a small head, long legs, and a long tail. It is the fastest land animal, running up to 104 km/h (65 mph). Cheetahs have a tawny to creamy white coat with black spots. Each spot is unique, like a fingerprint, and helps scientists identify each cheetah.

Cheetahs have special features that help them run fast. Their bodies are built for speed with strong muscles in their back legs and a flexible spine. They can speed up quickly, reaching high speeds in just a few seconds. Even though they can run very fast, they usually hunt at slower speeds to catch their prey.

Distribution and habitat

The cheetah lives in eastern and southern Africa, in places like the Kalahari and Serengeti. In other parts of Africa, they live in dry mountain areas and valleys. In Iran, cheetahs live in hilly desert areas.

Cheetahs can live in many different places but like areas with lots of food, open space to see, and fewer big predators. They are not usually found in tropical forests. They prefer open areas with some bushes to help them hunt. Cheetahs are not very common, with only a few adults living in a large area.

Ecology and behaviour

Cheetahs are mostly active during the day, unlike larger animals such as spotted hyenas and lions, who prefer the night. This helps cheetahs avoid fights over food. In places where cheetahs are the main hunter, like farms in Botswana and Namibia, they may hunt more at night. They also hunt more at night in very hot places such as the Sahara.

Hunting is the cheetah’s main activity, especially at dawn and dusk. They rest in groups in grassy areas after dark. Cheetahs keep watch for prey or larger animals from high points and take turns watching even while resting.

Cheetahs have flexible social lives. Females usually live alone with their babies, while males may form groups to defend areas and find mates. These male groups often consist of brothers but can include other males too. Females rarely interact with others except during mating season.

Cheetahs live in areas that vary in size depending on where they find food. Females often cover larger areas than males. Males may stay in one place or move around, depending on where females are found.

Cheetahs use many sounds to communicate, such as chirping, purring, and growling. They also use scent marking by spraying urine to show their territory. They greet each other by sniffing and grooming.

Cheetahs hunt small to medium-sized animals like gazelles and antelopes. They rely on their speed to chase down prey, often hunting during the day. After a hunt, cheetahs eat quickly and rest, as they tire easily from the sprint. They can eat a lot at once but usually consume about 4 kilograms of meat each day.

Cheetah mothers give birth to between three and eight cubs after a gestation of nearly three months. The cubs are born with their eyes closed and develop quickly, starting to explore and hunt with their mother. Young cheetahs face many dangers from predators, and only a few survive to adulthood. Cheetahs can live up to 15 years in the wild.

Threats

The cheetah faces several challenges that make its future uncertain. One big problem is habitat loss. This happens when land is used for farming or buildings. This leaves less space for cheetahs to live and find food.

Other threats include fewer prey animals and conflicts with people who protect their livestock. Cheetahs can also be hurt when crossing roads built through their habitats. Some areas also struggle with illegal wildlife trade, where cheetahs or their parts are taken for other uses. All these factors make it harder for cheetahs to survive in the wild.

Main article: Habitat loss

Conservation

The cheetah is considered Vulnerable and is protected by several international agreements. These include the IUCN Red List, the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals, and the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species. In Africa, people started working to protect cheetahs in the 1970s. Special centers such as the De Wildt Cheetah and Wildlife Centre and the Cheetah Conservation Fund were created. These groups focus on research, teaching people about cheetahs, and restoring their habitats.

In Asia, Iran has worked with international groups to protect the Asiatic cheetah since 2001. India also planned to bring cheetahs from Africa to help increase their numbers. In 2022, eight cheetahs were released into Kuno National Park. Since then, these cheetahs have had babies.

Interaction with humans

People have kept cheetahs as pets for thousands of years. Ancient pictures of cheetahs can be found in places like France, Sumer, and Egypt. In Egypt, cheetahs were special to kings and queens. They wore pretty collars and leashes. People believed cheetahs carried the spirits of dead pharaohs. Cheetahs were also used in hunts in many places, from the Middle East to India.

Cheetahs have been in zoos since the 1800s. At first, cheetahs in zoos did not live very long. Today, many cheetahs live in zoos all over the world. It can be hard to keep cheetahs in zoos because they get stressed easily and need special care to stay healthy.